Night Spirits

By Ruth Parker Riddle

When Ann agreed to move into her son’s English manor house to care for her grandson, she got more than she expected. She soon discovered some of the previous tenants still resided there. She had heard the house was haunted but she didn’t realize there would be so many spirits still lurking in the shadows.

Six year old Wyatt loved his nana but he longed for his mother’s attention. His parents were too busy traveling around the world, focused on their careers. After his sister left for boarding school, he found someone new to keep him company. She always seemed to be there when he needed her. His family was never quite sure if she was just his imaginary friend, a child spirit, or an angel in disguise.

Their housekeeper always tried to keep the family safe by using her own special magic. Gertie not only cooked good meals, but she also knew how to cook up a good spell. When she cleaned the house she went above the call of duty by thoroughly cleansing the home of unwanted ghostly houseguests. She soon began to realize her bewitchery may have been attracting even more Night Spirits.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663208767

Ruth Parker Riddle

Ruth Parker Riddle was born and raised in historic Beaufort, South Carolina. She has been living out west for the past thirty years and is now enjoying early retirement in sunny Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She is also the author of Haunted Family and Demented Angels.

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Copyright © 2020 Ruth Parker Riddle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-0875-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-0876-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020917389

iUniverse rev. date: 09/22/2020

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

This book is dedicated to my grandson

Ryett Reed Riddle

I would like to thank my family for all of their support

In loving memory of my brother

Bertis Reed Parker Jr.

Jelly Belly

Night Spirits

The Spirits of the night creepy shadows overhead

Always a scary sight as I shiver in my bed

The tapping sounds I hear when spirits come knocking

I always quiver in fear their suddenness so shocking

Smelling their scents my heart begins to flutter

Revealing a glimpse of hell as I gasp and I shudder

Nothing causes more terror

Nothing causes more fright

Nothing causes more prayers

Than the spirits of the night

Prologue

It was the dead of winter. The wind whistled through the trees as a young girl pushes her way through an overgrown forest. She had snow covering her lace-up boots that made her feet very cold.

P e r n e t t a! P e r n e t t a! she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

I’m coming Mommy! she called back, feeling a flurry of emotions because she knew it couldn’t possibly be her mother. She felt afraid as she began following the sound down a dark path. She was suddenly overcome with joy when she saw a secluded cottage in the distance. Picking up her pace, she quickly arrived at the front of a small A-frame log cabin with a thatched roof. She could tell it had been long abandoned. There wasn’t a sole in sight. It may have been a nice place to live at one time, but now it was weathered and rotting away. She cautiously entered through the broken front door. Once inside, she thought the place felt cozy with only one room. She found some kindling and a box of matches. She lit a fire in the fireplace with remnants of rotted logs. She then sat down to warm her hands over the flame. Although she still felt very cold, she was content for now. She had already decided the cabin was a safe place to hide. Everything inside was old, worn, broken, and dusty. However, she could still see the beauty in it. She had a good imagination … not everyone has that great gift.

Pernetta imagined she was sitting by a roaring fire and dressed in an over-sized warm wool sweater, her mother painstakingly knitted just for her. Above the fireplace mantle she could see her grandmother’s Cuckoo clock displayed prominently on the wall. She watched as the little Cuckoo bird came out to sing every hour on the hour. The Christmas stockings were hung in a row, ready to be filled with fruit and nuts and assorted candies. In front of the fireplace sat her fluffy gray cat curled up on a furry bearskin rug. She could hear him purring loudly as he groomed himself. The bear’s head appeared big and menacing to her, yet at the same time it looked so warm, soft, and cuddly. Pernetta thought the room was a very comfortable one, and oh so pretty. In one corner was a beautiful shining Christmas tree adorned with home-made decorations, strings of popcorn, and so many pretty lights. The chair on which she sat upon was a beautiful Victorian style, all chintz covered and so very soft. Sitting next to the chair was a fancy lamp table holding her mother’s beautiful hand painted porcelain oil lamp. The mahogany bed with carved foliage detail, sat on the adjoining wall covered with her grandmother’s handmade quilt. It had a soft downy feathered mattress so comfortable for snuggling. There were two large windows that were enhanced by her mother’s lovely ruffled lace curtains. Pernetta was very proud of this room.

In reality Pernetta’s room was bare of all these things. It was true she had a fireplace but this one had only a small amber glow as the charred logs smoldered and she had no fuel in which to rekindle the fire. The Christmas tree was really just a large pine bough growing through the broken roof. The rug was nothing but pine needles and other leaves. Her cat was actually just a rat, nibbling on a cockroach it found amidst the debris. There was a window, but it was small and drafty. There were no curtains and it had a broken pane. The cold air came blowing in making the room quite chilly. There was a bed, but oh what a bed it was. It was just a bundle of straw and not near as comfortable as she had imagined. The chair in which she sat was nothing more than a broken foot-stool. She was wearing a very ragged dress that was worn-out and dirty. The warm sweater she imagined was just a thread-bare shawl about her shoulders.

Pernetta imagined all the wonderful things Santa would be bringing her for Christmas this year. She reminisced about past Christmas’s when her parents were still alive. She had led quite a nice life. She was loved dearly by her mother and father. They had always contrived to buy her some sort of nice gift. Oh, how happy she had been before her parents perished in a house-fire. She had managed to save herself by climbing out her bedroom window. Her parents weren’t so lucky. The smoke suffocated them as they slept. Her future seemed uncertain and bleak. A child with no known relatives, she was taken away on a ship across the sea. She was forced to work as a chambermaid for a wealthy family. Her life was never the same. That was such a long time ago, so much had happened since then. Now she just longed to be reunited with her parents once more.

Soon the imaginary flames flickered and died out. She went to her bed feeling extra weak and hungry as she lay there on the straw attempting to stay as warm as possible. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. The sun rose brightly over the horizon and the church bells began ringing. What a happy world with a lovely snowy sunrise. Pernetta had always loved to imagine waking up to snow on Christmas day, but on this glorious morning she did not awaken. In death Pernetta looked very pretty, even in her ragged clothes. There was such a lovely light that seemed to glow upon her smiling little face. Perhaps she was thinking happy thoughts, what a wonderful white Christmas she was having, with so many good things to eat. If only it were possible to hear the night spirits speak, someone may have heard her message that day. How warm and pleasant things are here with my mother and father. I’m so fortunate, nothing more shall I have to worry about. Saint Nicholas was very good to me this year. This is my best Christmas ever.

Chapter 1

Suddenly, the storm started full force. The wind began churning whitecaps and froth. Strong waves crashed against the wooden hull of the ship. A loud creaking sound could be heard as the sailing vessel rocked back and forth. Standing on the deck overlooking the vast sea, Binta could feel the stiff ocean breeze in her face, her eyes stinging with tears. The wind blew so loudly it sounded like thousands of seagulls screaming overhead. She looked up at the full moon and it didn’t seem real to her somehow. In her mind it didn’t appear to be a solid planet at all. It looked more like a lighthouse beam, making an ominous glow across the water. She imagined a lonely lighthouse keeper observing her from afar. She wondered if he found her beautiful, or had the pregnancy finally taken its toll. She laid her hands across her swollen abdomen and looking down she noticed the enormous size of her belly. It was so large she could no longer see her feet. She suddenly began feeling lightheaded, so she decided it was time to go below deck. She began walking towards the ladder, when all of a sudden, a large wave splashed over the railing, drenching her new dress. The water made the deck slippery causing her to lose her footing; she slipped and fell, landing hard on her backside. She sat there for a moment and then attempted to stand. That was when she felt the first pains of impending labor. She then thought she heard Lucas calling her name. She called out for him and he came running towards her voice. He found Binta sitting there on the deck drenched in sea water. He quickly lifted her to her feet and they hurried to get below deck. Lucas helped her to her bed. The labor pains intensified and she soon realized that her baby was to be born prematurely. Most would have been afraid, but she didn’t have time for fear. There would be no preparations and there would be no doctor or mid-wife. She would have to do this all on her own. She cursed and screamed as the contractions hit one after the other. The pain was worse than she remembered, or could have ever imagined. She endured several hours of hard labor, sailing in rough waters in the area between Europe and Asia known as the Black Sea. Her screams echoed over the ocean as she pushed with all her might, and just before the sun rose over the horizon, her son was finally born on that brisk October morning.

You’re a tough one, Lucas said admiringly. He felt so inadequate not knowing exactly what to do to help. He offered her his whiskey flask. She took a big gulp and quickly vomited. I need water you fool! she yelled at him. She lay there physically and mentally drained. It was a terrible birth and she bled heavily. Binta thought the baby seemed weak and scrawny as she put him to her breast to suckle. He seemed to be having trouble suckling so she just held him in her arms and soon fell asleep from exhaustion. Lucas found Binta sleeping soundly, when he returned with fresh water for her to drink. He looked at his infant son and quickly realized something was wrong with him. He noticed a blue tinge in the baby’s pale complexion and he had his mouth wide open, like he was struggling to breathe. The captain of the ship was notified immediately. He then changed course and headed towards Romania, which was the nearest destination. They managed to dock the ship at a large port, where they could find help at the nearest hospital. The doctors concluded the baby had fluid in his lungs. They placed the baby in an incubator on oxygen and gave him antibiotics. The new parents were heartbroken because they didn’t expect their son to live. They consoled each other, to prepare themselves for the inevitable. Binta resigned herself by the fact that she really didn’t want a baby anyway, so it was probably for the best.

That night, when the nurse entered the baby’s nursery she was shocked to find a little girl sitting in the incubator. She let out a high-pitched shriek and ran towards the baby. When she noticed the look of sadness on the little girls face, it gave her a sense of overwhelming grief. As she slowly approached the incubator, the little girl disappeared right before her eyes. The nurse was pretty shook up at first, but when she checked on the infant, he appeared to be glowing. He was surrounded by a golden light as he slept peacefully with a sweet angelic smile on his face. He opened his eyes for a moment and seemed to acknowledge her. The nurse felt elated with joy and decided the little girl must have been an angel watching over him. She had heard of such stories, but had never experienced anything like that herself. She felt blessed to have witnessed such a special miracle. Her own grandmother believed that babies are still very closely in touch with the other side. She had always said, When a sleeping baby smiles, you can be assured they are dreaming of the angels.

The nurse had her priest bless a stuffed teddy bear, feeling compelled to give the baby a special gift. She knew in her heart this child of light had been visited by angels.

Within the next couple of days he appeared completely healthy with rosy cheeks and breathing on his own. The nurse rejoiced and felt blessed to have witnessed this miracle firsthand. Now she knew for sure angels are real and wishes do come true.

Lucas was a tall handsome Englishman, who worked as a Boatswain on a merchant ship for many years. He fancied himself as a wealthy world traveler. It was when he was traveling the coast of Africa, in 1953 when he first met Binta. She was a gorgeous dark-skinned beauty and aspiring model. Lucas first spotted her when he was docked in the port of Senegal. He had been searching for souvenirs in the crowded marketplace. His walk was confident as he weaved his way through the other shoppers and approached her at a fruit stand. He thought she looked stunning in her simple white lace dress. She saw him approaching and immediately noticed his uniform and thought Lucas was the most handsome sailor she had ever seen. Her heart melted when he walked up to her and asked, Do you like passion fruit? She loved his smiling sky blue eyes and noticed his straight white teeth as he spoke. The smell of his cologne filled her nostrils. It was like love at first sight for her. She felt almost giddy in his presence. She began blushing like a schoolgirl and giggled childishly, before she answered him in her sexiest voice, I just love passion fruit, she said, smiling cunningly at him, and then began walking away towards the next display, glancing back at him over her shoulder. He followed her with his eyes; he couldn’t stop watching the sway of her hips as she made her way to the next booth. He thought she was so beautiful. He picked up his pace and followed closely behind her. He raised his voice and called to her, Let me introduce myself!

I suppose that would be all right, she said. She then gave him a wry smile, pretending to not be interested.

My name is Lucas and I just have to tell you that I think you are the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. She buried her face in her hands and laughed, Nice to meet you. My name is Binta. I was just about to stop for a cup of java at the cafe. You are welcome to accompany me, she invited him.

He took her up on her offer and they walked briskly to a small coffee shop just outside the market place. They took a seat at a small round table on the patio. They were served almost immediately. Binta noticed that Lucas began to add lots of cream and sugar into his cup. I drink mine black. I don’t need the extra calories, she smiled at him.

They began talking and discovered they had so much in common. They were both interested in music, traveling, and most of all their careers. Neither of them wanted to settle down and have children. Lucas thought this just might be a match made in heaven.

Binta had a single room flat near the marketplace where they would discretely meet up. They soon began spending all their free time together enjoying each other’s company. When Lucas had to leave on his next voyage he asked her to accompany him. Drawn to the sea, and the love of adventure, Binta eagerly accepted his invitation. It was a beautiful morning as they headed down the pier and boarded the ship. The sea was calm, not a cloud in the sky as they set sail that day.

Shortly into the trip, Binta became overcome with nausea. She felt embarrassed when she tells Lucas, "I hope I haven’t lost my sea legs. I’ve sailed many times over the years and this is the first time I